According to preliminary figures released by Elections Canada, 21,733 electors in the Red Deer riding voted at advance polls held from April 18 to 21. In Ponoka-Didsbury, 27,715 ballots were cast by advanced voters.
Nationally, about 7.3 million Canadians voted early—a 25 per cent increase from the 5.8 million who voted in advance polls during the 2021 federal election.
In Alberta, 815,131 electors voted in advance polls, up from 646,090 in 2021—an increase of approximately 26 per cent.
The busiest advance polling day nationwide was Monday, April 21, when an estimated 2.1 million electors voted. By comparison, about 1.9 million voted on the final advance day in 2021.
Every province and territory reported an increase in advance turnout except Yukon, where participation declined from 5,318 in 2021 to 4,748 this year.
Advance polls were open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Election day is Monday, April 28.
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What to know ahead of election day
To vote in the federal election, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen
- be at least 18 years old on election day
- prove your identity and address
Electors who are not yet registered can still vote by registering at their assigned polling station before casting a ballot. Voters can check their registration status or find their polling location at elections.ca or by calling 1-800-463-6868.
Unregistered voters can also fill out their information online, print a pre-filled registration certificate, and bring it with them for faster service.
To prove identity and address, electors must either:
- Show one piece of government-issued photo ID with current address
- Show two pieces of ID, both with name and at least one with current address
- Be vouched for by someone who knows them personally, votes at the same polling station, and has accepted ID
Expired ID is accepted if it still shows the correct name and address. E-statements and e-invoices are allowed and may be printed or displayed on a mobile device.
If you live in more than one place, vote in the riding you consider home.
If you received a voter information card in the mail, bring it with you. It can be used as proof of address but must be paired with another accepted piece of ID to prove identity.
Candidate representatives may ask to see ID but voters are only required to show it to election officers.
Ballots are marked with polling district information, initialled by staff, and counted in view of candidate representatives. Taking photos of a completed ballot is illegal under the Canada Elections Act.
Electors who applied to vote by special ballot must return it to Elections Canada by the close of polls on April 28. Those voting from inside their riding should return their ballot in person at their local Elections Canada office. Once a special ballot has been issued, electors may not vote at their regular polling station.
Voters who need help may bring a support person or ask for assistance from an election officer. Large-print lists, magnifiers, grip pencils and braille templates will be available at the polls.
Voting hours across Canada
Voting hours are staggered by time zone so that most results become available at roughly the same time nationwide. On Monday, April 28, polling station hours are as follows (all local time):
- Newfoundland Time: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Atlantic Time: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Eastern Time: 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Central Time: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.*
- Mountain Time: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.*
- Pacific Time: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
* In Saskatchewan, polls are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
For ridings that span multiple time zones, a single local voting time is set by the returning officer with approval from the Chief Electoral Officer. Voters in these districts can check their information card or the Elections Canada website.
Time off work to vote
Eligible voters must have three consecutive hours to cast their ballot on election day. If an employee's work schedule does not allow for this, the employer must provide time off.
For example, if polls are open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and an employee works from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the employer must adjust the schedule to provide a three-hour window—either before, during, or after the shift. The employer decides when the time off is given.
This applies to all employers, except in specific transportation sector circumstances where:
- The employer transports goods or passengers by land, air or water
- The employee is working outside their polling division
- The employee is involved in operating the means of transportation
- Time off cannot be granted without interfering with the transportation service
Employees must be paid as if they were working during the time off. Employers who fail to comply may be fined up to $2,000, jailed for up to three months, or both.
Voter information and assistance
For details on where and how to vote, what ID is accepted, or how to return a special ballot, visit elections.ca or call 1-800-463-6868.
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